MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Skybox
Imaging (Skybox) today announced the company has successfully
completed the simulated space environmental test of its first
high-resolution imaging microsatellite.

During the 16-day test campaign conducted at NASA’s Ames Research Center
in Moffett Field, Calif., the satellite was placed in a thermal vacuum
chamber that accurately simulated the thermal and environmental
conditions of low Earth orbit. Skybox evaluated the spacecraft’s
performance in a variety of operational modes. This included a
“day-in-the-life” test where the Skybox operations team simulated flying
the spacecraft for 20 orbits. The test data collected was used to
accurately correlate the detailed spacecraft thermal and power models
and verify that all subsystems performed as expected.

“Spacecraft thermal vacuum testing is the largest and most important
phase in our integrated spacecraft test program,” said Jonny Dyer, chief
engineer at Skybox. “Successful completion of this milestone gives us
greater confidence that our first spacecraft will perform well in the
space thermal environment.”

Skybox is now entering final testing phases of the spacecraft, including
integrated system testing and launch base testing. The next key test is
set to take place in early 2013, when the spacecraft will undergo
vibration testing. This will be the last major milestone preceding the
satellite’s planned launch in the second quarter of 2013.

“Our team is the foundation of our success, and we are extremely proud
of the completion of this milestone which brings us one crucial step
forward in the lead-up to launch,” said Tom Ingersoll, Skybox CEO. “This
marks only the beginning of our endeavors as we advance toward the
deployment of the constellation.”

About Skybox Imaging

Skybox Imaging (Skybox) designs and builds microsatellites and cloud
services that provide global customers easy access to reliable and
frequent high-resolution images of the Earth via a scalable web-based
platform. By operating the world’s first coordinated microsatellite
constellation, Skybox aims to empower commercial and government
customers to make more informed, data-driven decisions that will improve
the profitability of companies and the welfare of societies around the
world. Founded in Silicon Valley in 2009, Skybox is backed by leading
venture firms and comprised of internet and aerospace professionals. For
more information, visit www.skybox.com.